Participated · Series A · Jul 2021

PEP-Therapy is a Paris-based biotechnology company developing cell-penetrating peptides as targeted therapies for cancers. Its lead candidate, PEP-010, is the first of a new class of therapeutic peptides based on the company's Cell Penetrating & Interfering Peptide (CP&IP) technology; these molecules penetrate cells and specifically block relevant intracellular protein-protein interactions. The approach is intended to inhibit key pathological mechanisms without altering physiological mechanisms. The company intends to use the recent financing to fund the Phase I a/b clinical trial of PEP-010. PEP-Therapy raised an additional €2.6m in a Series A extension, bringing the total raised in the round to €5.4m, comprised of equity and a loan. The company previously received a €2.9m grant from the French state innovation fund (FUI) to finance nonclinical and early clinical development. PEP-Therapy is led by CEO Antoine Prestant. PEP-Therapy develops targeted cancer therapies based on a cell-penetrating and interfering peptide (CP&IP) technology that uses bi-functional peptides to enter cells and block pathological mechanisms while sparing normal physiology. The company’s lead product is paired with a predictive biomarker intended to identify patients likely to respond. PEP-Therapy says its first targeted therapy has convincing proof-of-concept in preclinical models representative of human tumors. The funding will support regulatory toxicity studies, described as the final phase before clinical trials. The firm holds a portfolio of targeted therapies built on the same CP&IP approach, developed in collaboration with research institutions including Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Inserm and Institut Curie. Management framed the financing as enabling scale-up of development toward clinical evaluation.

Led · Seed · Apr 2021

IMAGEENS develops software solutions for doctors to leverage advanced medical imaging, commercializing two products: ArtFun+ and LABEL. ArtFun+ calculates vascular stiffness and flow imaging biomarkers that are predictive of long-term risk of death and major cardiovascular events and stems from the NIH-funded MESA study. Its imaging biomarkers have been studied in 77 publications and are used in 31 leading clinical centers. LABEL provides image classification algorithms that enable large medical data warehouses to create metadata and precisely query cohorts for R&D and AI training, and IMAGEENS works with institutions such as AP-HP. The company is pursuing FDA and CE clearance for ArtFun+ to integrate prognostic biomarkers into routine cardiovascular care. IMAGEENS will use the €1.2M seed financing to accelerate development and commercialization of ArtFun+ and LABEL, hire key R&D talent, and scale its commercial team.

Participated · Equity · Dec 2020

SweepBright offers a mobile-first web platform that enables real estate agents to create, distribute and follow up on property listings via their smartphones. Founded in 2016 by Raphael Bochner and Yoram Speaker, the company launched services in Belgium at the end of 2017. SweepBright claims its users close twice as many transactions as traditional agents and now handles more than 10,000 transactions per year, representing over 10% of the Belgian market. The platform is supported on development around data by the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and the University of Antwerp. SweepBright positions itself as a productivity tool that consolidates the tools an agency needs to increase margins and efficiency. The company is using recent funding to support geographic expansion into the French market. SweepBright builds a mobile-first platform that lets real estate agents quickly create, distribute and follow up on property listings from their smartphones. The product targets "next-generation" agencies that use technology to boost productivity, customer experience and digital marketing. The company has offices in Antwerp and New York. SweepBright plans near-term expansion into Mexico and Australia through partnerships with classified site Segundamano and the Real Estate Institute Queensland. The startup recently raised €2.3 million to support these growth initiatives. CEO Raphael Bochner emphasized the market shift toward more productive, digitally focused agencies as a driver for the company's strategy.

Participated · Series C · Apr 2020

Robocath, founded in 2009, designs, develops and commercializes robotic solutions to treat cardiovascular diseases. Its first robotic-assisted platform, R-One™, optimizes safety in coronary angioplasty and is compatible with market-leading devices and cath labs; it is currently available in Europe and Africa. The company is developing a second-generation robot to cover more PCI procedures and to begin peripheral and neurovascular applications. The €40m Series C financing will be used to expand sales and marketing for R-One™ and accelerate product development of the next-generation system. Robocath plans to enter the Asian market through a China-based joint venture with MicroPort that will include local manufacturing, consumable production and robot assembly. Both companies will also pursue R&D on long-distance 5G remote-control technologies and AI algorithms for robotic-assisted platforms. Robocath has more than 30 employees and is backed by investors including GO CAPITAL, NCI, Normandie Participations, M Capital, Supernova Invest, Caisse d’épargne, BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole and Bpifrance. Robocath develops robotic systems for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with a focus on robotic-assisted coronary procedures. Its first product, R-One™, is designed to optimize the safety of robotic-assisted coronary angioplasty. R-One™ received CE marking in February 2019. The company intends to use new funding to roll out its robotic platform in strategic European target markets. Robocath was founded in 2009 and is based in Rouen, France. It is led by newly hired CEO Lucien Goffart alongside founder and president Philippe Bencteux. Robocath develops R-One™, a robotic platform that optimizes and increases the safety of robotic-assisted coronary angioplasty by enabling precise operation from a seated position and using a portable X-ray protective screen. The company plans to market its first robotic platform in Europe and the Middle East in 2018 and will use new funding to increase resources for marketing R-One. Robocath will also launch development of a next-generation robotic platform targeted at neurovascular diseases such as strokes. The company received an additional €1.7M in funding which supplements a €4.7M close in May. Founded in 2009 by Philippe Bencteux, Robocath employs close to 20 staff. The funds are explicitly earmarked for commercialization of R-One and R&D on the next-generation stroke treatment robotics. Robocath designs and develops robotic solutions for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with its first platform, the R-one™, aimed at interventional cardiology. The integrated R-one platform is covered by 20 families of international patents and allows physicians to remotely manage instruments from a control panel close to the operating table. R-one incorporates two core technologies—R-grasp®, which reproduces hand movements including rotation and simultaneous movement, and SecurAccess®, which provides stability and security during procedures. The company is currently at the manufacturing stage and is in the process of obtaining the CE mark. Robocath intends to use the new funds for continued development and employs around 20 staff. Founded in 2009 in Rouen, France, the company previously raised €1.8m in 2013 and 2015 and received about €1.6m in public aid from Bpifrance and others.

Participated · Series B · Nov 2019

Acticor Biotech is a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing glenzocimab (ACT017), a humanized antibody fragment that targets platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) to inhibit thrombus growth while limiting bleeding risk. Preclinical and early evidence of antithrombotic efficacy and safety have been demonstrated ex vivo and in vivo. The company’s lead program is the Phase II ACTIMIS trial in acute ischemic stroke, which it plans to expand into the US following an encouraging pre-IND consultation with the FDA and an intended IND filing in the coming months. Acticor recently completed its Series B financing, bringing the round to €22.3M after an additional €7M equity raise. Concurrent with the financing close, Acticor acquired 100% of AVCare and secured worldwide sub-licensing rights from SATT Ouest Valorisation to develop and exploit a stroke blood biomarker. Leila Nicolas of Go Capital will join Acticor’s board as part of the transaction. Acticor Biotech is a clinical-stage biotechnology company spun off from INSERM focused on developing therapies for acute thrombotic diseases, including ischemic stroke and pulmonary embolism. Its lead candidate, ACT017, is a humanized antibody fragment (Fab) that targets platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) to inhibit thrombus growth while limiting bleeding risk. Evidence of ACT017's antithrombotic efficacy and safety of GPVI inhibition has been demonstrated ex vivo and in vivo. The company plans to advance ACT017 into its first Phase II clinical trial in acute ischemic stroke. The recent Series B financing will enable this Phase II and support additional clinical development in other indications. Acticor is headquartered in Paris and builds on research from its founders at INSERM and Paris-Sud University. Acticor Biotech is developing ACT017, a humanized fragment of a monoclonal antibody that binds the platelet receptor GPVI and inhibits platelet adhesion and aggregation on collagen and polymerized fibrin. The company is focused on treatments for the acute phase of thrombotic diseases, including ischemic stroke and pulmonary embolism. Acticor closed a €1.7m equity financing and also secured €2.2m in grants from the Concours Mondial de l’Innovation, for a total of €3.9m. The proceeds are intended to strengthen cash position in preparation for the company’s first clinical Phase II for ACT017. Acticor was founded in 2013 as a spin-off of Inserm and is led by Dr Gilles Avenard, and is based in Paris, France. Acticor Biotech is developing ACT‑017, a first‑in‑class anti‑thrombotic candidate that inhibits glycoprotein VI to prevent clot growth during ischemic strokes. ACT‑017 is intended for use alone or in combination with Alteplase® and aims to be safe from bleeding risk. In vitro and in vivo testing have confirmed previously published results and suggest the candidate could be administered shortly after symptoms appear. The company completed a €1.4 million capital increase to fund continued pre‑clinical development and to produce initial batches of ACT‑017. Management frames the emergency treatment of ischemic stroke as a major unmet need in Europe, affecting over 600,000 patients per year. The round was organized in part via the Anaxago crowdfunding platform, reflecting investor interest in the company’s stroke‑treatment development.